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The trial for a Knox County woman charged with possession of wild animals has been moved to
November.

Carol Deyo was charged by the Ohio Division of Wildlife after rehabbing two injured deer and
four raccoons, all of which have become pets on her small farm near Mount Vernon.

Her jury trial, originally slated for Aug. 29, was continued at Deyo’s request. The new trial
date is Nov. 21 at 9 a.m., giving the deer, named Trooper and Patch, as well as the raccoons a
three-month reprieve.

If Deyo is convicted, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources likely would confiscate and
possibly destroy the animals.

Deyo said she asked for the continuance because doctors were concerned for her health. Deyo has
breast cancer, and medication she was prescribed last year weakened her heart and led to heart
failure in February. Letters from her oncologist and her cardiologist were submitted to the court
in support of the continuance.

“My doctors were worried that the stress of a trial will have a negative impact on my health,”
Deyo said. “I know some people will say, ‘She’s bringing the stress on herself because she’s trying
to save the animals,’ but it would stress me a whole lot more if they came to kill them. They’re
what keep me going.”

About 7,000 people have signed Deyo’s “Saving Trooper” Facebook petition to save her
animals.

The state prohibits the possession of any animals taken from the wild unless the person is
licensed by the state.

Neither Mount Vernon Law Director Chip McConville nor ODNR objected to the continuance. Both
McConville and ODNR spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle say they’ve received numerous calls and emails
about the case, “many of which were not very nice,” McCorkle said. None was threatening, they
said.